Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-23
THE RAILROAD PROBLEM.
Plan Adopted BY the Citizens Repre-.
sentative COmmitsee.

THE RAILROAD PROBLEM.
A Plan Adopted BY the Citizens, Repre-.
sentative Commitsee.
THE ALTERNATIVE Route BY WAY OF FIFTH STREE
REJEcTED-THE COMMITTEE DECIDE IN Favor OF
THE EASTERN BRANCH RoUTE-vARIoUs xoprFTcA
TONS MADE IN THE REPORT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE
The Citizens Representative Committee held 9
special meeting last evening for the purpose OF
considering the report Of the subcommittee or
| steam railroads made at the last meeting and or
dered TO be printed. There was a good attendance
OF members for the FIRST part OF the meeting
| mainly from the south and east sections but as
the meeting was protracted the attendance OWN.
died, until at the final vote only between thirty
and forty members were present. Mr. John T.
Mitchell said that before the regular business came
| up he would like TO introduce a resolution and
there being no objection, he read resolution re.
citing that the committee heartily concurs in the
effort now being made by the District Commits
| sioners TO arch over Rock Creek as an improve.
ment OF value TO the entire District looking to the
recovery OF large amount or unoccupied land, the
., tae M nuiSance OF an open sewer and the
resolution was deferred until the next meeting.
| THE RAILROAD REPORT.
| 1t was decided to take up and act upon the
recommendations OF the railroad report seriatim.
| The secretary read the first recommendation
providing for the location OF a union railroad
passenger depot at Reservation IL.
| Mr.. W. H. singleton moved TO strike out II and
| insert dt virginia avenue and Maryland avenue,
sth and streets southwest" He added that this
was the location recommended by the Commits
/ sionerS
MIR Gray said that he thought 1t would be sufi-
clent 10 say IN opposition TO this amendment that
/ the site was located In the center Of one OF the
most tnickly settled portions OF South Washing
Mr.. MorseIl said that he was opposed to the use
OF any reservation for railroad purposes, and for
| This reason he was opposed 10 the amendment:
speaker In regard to projecting the reservations
but this amendment placed the site OF the union
| depot upon the squares south OF Maryland and
| virginia avenues and not upon a reservation.
! SAT. singleton said that he favored this portion
! OF the ComInlssioners plan, and he was free 10
say their entire plan. He Thought that the loca-
| tion proposed in his amendment removed the
present obstacles to the business OF the city, was
OF greater convenience TO the travelling public, and
made provision Tor the accommodation or the I'M
nense future growth OF the city. The interests OF
the United states in the national capital, tue
venience OF the travelling public, and the welfare
or the city, as whole, should be considered as
| we'll as the wishes OF particular sections.
Mr. Church said that the committee, in consider
| Ing this matter, had concluded that the import
ance OF the business interests OF the city weighed
more than the interests OF the travelling public.
For this reason the committee favored Reservation
| IL as the site.
Mr.. Thompson protested in behalf OF the citizens
| OF south Washington against the adoption OF the
amendment, as It would be Impossible TO have
residences in the vicinity, and would interfere
| with the business interests.
In response TO a question Mr.. Singleton said that
his amendment included the reServat. on to the
north or Maryland and Virginia avenues.
THE QUESTION OF ACCESSIBILITY.
Mr.. T.. W. Smith said that 1t seemed to be the
| impression that Reservation II was more mac
| cessble than the other location, at Sth and c
streets. He wished to call the attention OF the
members 10 the fact that by opening up Canal
street an avenue 200 feet wide could be extended
| from AZ street and pennsylvania avenue 10 Res
| eryation IL, thus afIording ready access for
Mr.. Gray said another objection the people OF
SOHth Washington had to the location at Sth and
G streets was the fact that the railroad tracks
would pass directly in front OF the Jefferson
school building, the largest school structure in
that section OF the city. lie thought that ths was
Mr. DawsOns aid that this amendment would
still cucumber the important streets and avenues
| in south Washington, 10 the detr1ment OF prop
erty and peril or life. The failure TO relieve that
section in this particular would be the failure OF
| the entire movement made TO remedy the present
evils arising from the use the city streets by
| the railroads The further proposition OF the
Commissioners to have a track below the surface
was hardly practicable, IN his opinion, as In times
OF Ireshet the tracks would probably be under
water.
Mr. singleton said in reply, that it was proposed
10 have the track passed through tunnel from
9Th TO 10th street, and that the bottom OF the tun-
mel would Be 8 feet above high-water mark, which
| would obviate the danger riom freshets.
| Mr. Pelham moved, as An amendment, that the
| the Arsenal Grounds
Cor Dyer, who was In the chair, said this amend
mant was not clear as the reservation referred 10
was the same one now occupied by the Pennsyl-
| vania depot.
Mr. Pelham explained that he meant the grounds
| at the END OF Az street and aiong the river.
Mr.. sINGLEroNs AMENDMENT LOST.
This amendment was lost and upon the question
OF the adoption Of Mr.. Singieton's amendment a
rising vote was taken and II was lost by a vote Of
| 12 TO 80. The smalness Of the vote is accounted
for by the fact that part Of the delegates from
/ Northwest Washington and Georgetown refralned
/ from voting, leaving the matter TO South and
East Washington as the sections specially inter-
| ested.
the word Eat" and insert I'm the immediate vicinity
Of" that the clause would read "a union depot in
the immediate vicinity of Reservation IL" He ex-
planned that the object was 10 avoid the appear
ance OF favor In the granting OF the use OF the
eryation 10 the railroad companies
Mr.. Jno. l. Herrell said that reason for the
| adoption OF this amendment was the fact that the
railroads had already destroyed the value great
Sl Se acton 9s OF
Pennsylvania company In interfering with the
| work on the Eastern Branch, ana characterized 1t
/ as q defiance OF the United states Government.
He thought the railroad company should be
| obliged 10 buy the property necessary to carry on
| their business, just as private citizens are CON-
Mr.. Jesse B. Wilson said that 1t was a mistake
to abuse the railroads. as they were OF great bene-
Mt 10 the city, He said that In the proper DISPOSE
tlOn or sucn a matter some one would have to
| suffer- and he was OF the opinion that in cases
| where the public interests were involved That
private interests should be willing TO make some
| concessions.
Mr.. A. B. Mullett said that he was In favor OF the
| location selected by the Commissioners, but had
RETAINED from expressing himself because ne was
| willing TO leave the matter TO East and South
| Washington, as particularly affected by any &C.
ton, anu Il Reservation Il was determined upon,
| while 1t might not be SO convenient 10 people
living elsewhere as TO those living IN South Wash
| ington. be thought they would be able TO accom-
mOdate themselves to the increased distance.
| ANOTHER LOCATION PROPOSED AND REJECTED.
| Mr.. Geo. NJ. oyster said that he favored the rail-
| roads buying the ground for a union depot, and
he offered an amendment that the depot be located
In squares 5:4, 535, and SD, lying between Mary.
land and Virginia avenues, Sd, and ~ streets
southwest.
Mr. church said the only objection to this amend.
ment would be the necessity Of using Maryland
| and virginia avenues TO reacn the Long Bridge.
\ MI. Oyster replied that street was the natural
| route TO Long Bridge from that point and that
/ street could be used.
Mr.. Church said that Major Twining had pro
posed 10 use L street some years ago, but It was
found 10 be very Objectionable. There was large
Catholic church ON Z street. and there were other
| objections. Whether II the street was tunnelled
| He hoped that this amendment would be well con-
| sidered before IL was acted upon.
Mr.. Strasburger thought that In order To get the
| so eligibly located, some Involvement should he
"A m for he